Ring in the best savings ever on Withings Wi-Fi Smart Scale
Right now you can save an additional 25% on the already-discounted Withings connected scale, dropping the price to the lowest we’ve ever seen. The scale can be yours for just $68.21, which is a huge savings from the normal price which sits closer to $130. Not only will you be able to track how many pounds you are shedding, but also get accurate BMI, body fat, muscle, water and more readings.
If 2017 is the year that you want to gain or shed a few pounds, this is a great way to easily track your progress. For the extra 25% savings you will need to be logged into your Amazon account before adding it to your cart. When you go to check out you should see the discount apply automatically.
See at Amazon
Snapchat Groups will let you chat with 16 friends at once
Even though Snapchat has quickly become a huge communication platform, there are still basic features it lacks, like group messaging. With Snapchat Groups, announced today, the app is beginning to fill those gaps. It’ll let you start group chats with up to 16 of your Snapchat friends. And, as you’d expect, the conversations will disappear after 24 hour. Recipients will also only be able to view Snaps sent to the group once.
Snap says you’ll be able to create group chats either when sending a new Snap or starting a new chat. You can also tap onto your friends’ names at the bottom of the screen to hop into one-on-one chats.
Groups is also joined by two new tools: scissors and paintbrush. The former will let you turn Snaps into stickers from the preview screen. While the paintbrush will apparently turns Snaps into “artistic masterpieces.” Whatever that means.
Given how much Snapchat has changed the way its users message, you could argue that it didn’t even need a traditional group chat function. But it makes sense when looking at Snap’s evolution as a company. Instead of being a weird thing kids use, it’s trying to become a more useful communication platform.
Source: Snap
Uber tweaks its app to make UberPool rides more convenient
UberPool is one of the cheaper ride-hailing options, grouping nearby passengers who are headed in the same direction. The problem is that all of those pickups and drop-offs can be time consuming. To help, Uber has announced a raft of new features for its mobile apps, including status notifications for riders. Once you’ve confirmed a booking, that means you’ll receive “real-time instructions” and updates such as “leaving shortly” and “be ready outside.” Drivers, meanwhile, will find a timer in the app specifying how long to wait at the pick-up point. If the passenger doesn’t appear, they’re free to move on and claim a no-show fee from Uber.
Uber is also rolling out automatic trip switching. If you’re waiting for a ride, but another, better journey is booked before your pickup, Uber will swap you over automatically. Passengers and drivers will receive a notification explaining the change, hopefully enabling a faster, more convenient journey. As an extension, the company is experimenting with a new feature called “predictive matching.” If you’re booking a ride and few drivers are available — or the other passengers are miles away — the app will hold off and wait for a better match-up. Uber will work this out based on historical trip data — so if you live in a place where lots of bookings typically take place, there’s a higher chance it’ll wait for another journey.
Finally, Uber is helping drivers with clearer payment information and “route extension” maps. The latter repositions the app to show the next two pick-up locations (rather than just the next one). That way, drivers have a more complete picture about their journey, and can shuffle lanes or take turns that will make both passenger pick-ups easier to complete.
Source: Uber
Apple’s BeatsX wireless headphones are delayed until February
When Apple announced it was killing the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, it revealed a handful of wireless options to keep the music going. In addition to those AirPods that just went on sale today, the company’s Beats line pulled the wraps off of three headphone models that featured the same W1 quick-pairing chip as Apple’s delayed wireless option. Today, Apple also updated the BeatsX product page to note that the set of wireless in-ear headphones won’t ship until February.
The other two Beats models that Apple announced back in September, the on-ear Solo3 and workout-focused PowerBeats3, are already available for $300 and $200, respectively. BeatsX is the third member of the trio and was originally supposed to ship back in the fall. Right now, there’s no word on exactly what’s causing the delay. When the headphones do arrive next year, they’ll be available in either black and white and charge via an included Lightning cable. If you don’t mind waiting, expect to pay $150 to nab a set in a couple of months.
Source: Apple
Microsoft will put Cortana in your smart home
Microsoft doesn’t just want its Cortana in your phone or on your desk — it wants the voice assistant to be a mainstay in your smart home. As part of a WinHEC presentation, the company’s May Ji has revealed that Windows 10 Creator Update will bring Cortana to Windows 10 IoT Core devices with screens. Combined with longer-ranged voice detection (key to Microsoft’s Home Hub plans), you wouldn’t have to be anywhere near a PC to use the digital helper — you could ask your thermostat about the weather, or add an appointment to your calendar through your fridge. Those concepts aren’t new, of course, but Cortana can sync with your phone and Windows PC on a level that isn’t possible with most smart home devices.
The Creators Update arrives in spring 2017, although you won’t necessarily see Cortana-equipped appliances shipping at the same time. Hardware makers will still have to integrate the new Windows 10 release into their products, so it could take some months after that before you’re upgrading your home. Even so, it could be a big deal when it arrives. Most smart home equipment doesn’t have direct access to an advanced voice assistant — this would make the technology virtually ubiquitous.
Via: ZDNet, The Verge
Source: Channel 9
Teenage TalkTalk hacker sentenced
The teenage hacker that played a key role in the 2015 TalkTalk data breach has been sentenced to a 12-month youth rehabilitation order today, after pleading guilty to seven charges under the Computer Misuse Act last month. Alongside a nominal fine, the 17-year-old has also surrendered his iPhone and a computer hard drive to police. As The Guardian reports, the rehabilitation order is intended to “draw him from the lonely confines of a bedroom and that lonely world of computing to a family where his knowledge and skills could be put to good use and to project that out to the wider world.”
The teen used an SQL mapping tool to identify a vulnerability in TalkTalk’s website last year, which he then proceeded to publish online. Only two of his seven charges are related to this, though, as during the investigation police discovered he’d targeted other websites, including those of Manchester and Cambridge universities.
He didn’t attempt to profit from the TalkTalk hack, and claimed he was just “showing off.” But after publishing details of the vulnerability online, others ran with it and bombarded the ISPs website over 14,000 times. More than 150,000 customer details were stolen, including over 15,000 bank details.
According to an earlier BBC report, seven people have been arrested in connection with the breach, with several court cases in progress. One 19 year-old, for example, faces more serious charges of blackmail and fraud, after allegedly trying to extort a Bitcoin ransom (worth upwards of £200,000) from TalkTalk following the breach.
Speaking at this first sentencing today, chairman of the bench Jean Bonnick said to the 17 year-old: “Your IT skills will always be there — just use them legally in the future.”
In its latest financial report, TalkTalk said it’s well on the road to recovery after last year’s data breach, which damaged its reputation significantly. Less than six months after the attack, almost 100,000 customers had jumped ship despite the company offering free upgrades in apology.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has also fined the ISP £400,000 for failing to patch a known vulnerability that ultimately led to the hack. That’s small fry in the grand scheme of things, though. In its last annual report, TalkTalk said it had incurred £42 million in costs related to the breach.
Via: The Guardian
Engadget giveaway: Win an iPhone 7 courtesy of Mint!
The holidays are usually pretty tough on your wallet and there’s enough distraction that bills may go unpaid past their due date. Smart money and account management apps like Intuit’s Mint are essential tools in keeping you on budget and paid up on time. Mint has recently added bill management to its long list features, aggregating them so you can make payments quickly, while keeping an eye on available cash. The free app also provides bill reminders, money management tips, free credit score reports and helps you craft a budget that will work for you. This week, Mint has provided us with an Apple iPhone 7 for one lucky reader, so they can keep track of their cash flow in style during the holiday season and beyond. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) Apple iPhone 7 (MN8Q2LL/A, jet black, 128GB).
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Engadget and AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until Dec. 14th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Apple Warns Customers to Beware of Counterfeit Power Adapters and Batteries
Nearly two months after filing a lawsuit against a firm selling counterfeit Apple power adapters and Lightning cables on Amazon, Apple has updated its website to advise customers to beware of counterfeit parts.
Apple warns some counterfeit and third-party power adapters and batteries could pose safety risks, and recommends customers visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for genuine parts.
Beware of counterfeit parts
Some counterfeit and third party power adapters and batteries may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues.
To ensure you receive a genuine Apple battery during a battery replacement, we recommend visiting an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. If you need a replacement adapter to charge your Apple device, we recommend getting an Apple power adapter.
As revealed in its lawsuit against counterfeiter Mobile Star LLC, Apple found almost 90% of so-called “genuine” Apple products and accessories it purchased from Amazon in a nine-month period were actually counterfeit. U.S. certification company UL later found 99% of fake Apple chargers sold online fail basic safety tests.
Following the lawsuit, an Amazon spokesperson informed MacRumors it has “zero tolerance for the sale of counterfeits” on its website. “We work closely with manufacturers and brands, and pursue wrongdoers aggressively.”
Amazon reportedly plans to crack down on counterfeit products sold through its website next year by creating a registry to prevent fake goods from being listed for sale. Apple could sign up for the registry, for example, and merchants would then have to obtain official brand permission before they can sell products and accessories.
Tags: Amazon, Apple Support
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watchOS 3.1.1 Bricking Some Apple Watch Series 2 Models
Following the release of watchOS 3.1.1 yesterday afternoon, a few early-installers of the latest operating system for the Apple Watch have found that their devices become bricked during the update process. Users in the MacRumors forums, email tipsters, and quite a few Redditors have begun reporting a red exclamation mark on their Apple Watch’s screen that guides them to http://www.apple.com/help/watch.
Most have discovered they now need to send the device back to Apple so it can be replaced because Apple retail locations can’t service the problem in-store. To fix the issue, the Apple Watch has to be restored through the device’s small diagnostic port, which Apple Stores don’t cover.
Image via Redditor Moust4ki
The majority of users appear to be using an Apple Watch Series 2, and issues first began with reports of the watchOS 3.1.1 update getting stuck on the circular progress bar. A few bricking cases appear to be because some users were force-restarting the Apple Watch during the update process because of the progress bar being stuck in one place for upwards of a few hours. However, most cases appear to lack a specific reason as to why the Apple Watch bricked during the update, with those users reporting not having touched or interacted with the device while it was charging and updating.
Now, users affected by bricked Apple Watches can either visit an Apple Store so the location can ship off the device to be replaced by a new Apple Watch, or they can visit Apple’s support site to begin the exchange process and ship it off themselves. The Series 0 and Series 1 Apple Watches appear to have gotten through the watchOS 3.1.1 update with less of a hassle, although some admitted the update did “take a long time” and needed to be installed twice in one case.
Apple has yet to address the watchOS 3.1.1 bricking issue, but it should be noted that there are also plenty of Series 2 owners who have made it out the other side of the update without any problems. Still, if you’re concerned about a potential bricked Apple Watch, it appears that the best course of action is to stay on a version of watchOS of 3.1 or below for the time being. Yesterday, Apple also released iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1, both introducing the all-new TV app to users.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Adobe Photoshop Updated With Touch Bar Support
Adobe has released an updated version of Photoshop CC 2017 for Mac with support for the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro, providing users with access to controls based on three categories: Layer Properties, Brushes, and Favorites.
Photoshop’s implementation includes a History Scrubber to jump to any recent state of a document created during the current session. Each time a user applies a change to the document, a new document state is added. Users can scroll through or tap thumbnails on the Touch Bar to navigate the document history.
Touch Bar functions for Layer Properties include adjusting the layer opacity and visibility, scrolling through available blending modes, and making a layer a clipping mask. For brushes, users can use the Touch Bar to pick a color, brush size, brush hardness, brush opacity, and brush flow.
Favorites includes a Screen Mode for toggling between the normal screen mode and full screen mode, and controls for invoking the New Layer command and flipping layers horizontally or vertically. Meanwhile, a Fill Mode control invokes the Fill command with the Content-Aware Fill option preselected.
Photoshop design manager Bradee Evans demoed the Touch Bar features at Apple’s new MacBook Pro event in October. Skip to the 52:30 mark.
Photoshop users can update to the latest version using the Adobe CC Updater. Adobe says Touch Bar support is a “technology preview,” meaning the feature is not considered “production-ready” but nonetheless is available for users to try out.
Tags: Photoshop, Touch Bar
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